Exodus 33:14
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Last Sunday, our teaching pastor gave us a homework assignment. He asked that we read this scripture from Exodus and meditate on it. During this exercise, we were to ask the Lord to reveal Himself to us.
Our pastor also asked us to write the scripture with the hand we don’t normally write with (to engage the opposite side of our brains). Uh, that would be the chicken scratch you see in red. Then we were to draw a scene with crayons or markers that went with that scripture. My friend thought we were supposed to draw with that hand as well (oops — I didn’t). This picture was what I drew.
I doubt you can tell, but to the left of my “dirt” path is a mountain.
I just looked at different versions of this scripture and the God’s Word Translation reads:
The Lord answered, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you peace.”
The Good News Translation is different:
The Lord said, I will go with you, and I will give you victory.
This scripture came to me many times this week. I needed the reminder that God’s Presence was with me and the He would give me rest.
This was an emotional week for me. I guess I am walking through the different steps of grief that God has wanted me to do. I knew I had disconnected (or at least buried) my “love-feelings” towards my parents so that I could do what needed to be done. I had to be strong for them and operate as the parent versus the child. This week God placed the idea on my heart to write my parents letters, telling them what they have meant (and still mean) to me. I had to dig through the crusty layers of protection to reflect on fond childhood memories.
Did anyone else do this when you had to care for someone who was dying? Did you disconnect your emotions from the situation to survive?
I’m sure God has done me a great favor by having me deal with some of this emotion NOW versus the day when they leave this earthly realm. They have been intertwined in my everyday life for around 12 years now.
I am grateful for God’s Presence, His rest, His peace, and His victory!
I feel His peace.
I am linking with Barbie at My Freshly Brewed Life for Fresh Brewed Sundays. This is where she invites us to share a scripture with simple insight. I don’t know if I followed the rules necessarily, but if you would like to join or read other blog posts, please click on her button below.
Sister, before you even explained that you wrote the red ones with your non-dominant hand, I could read them! I thought…Wow!!!Chicken scratch? That’s way better than some doctors’ handwriting that I was always afraid to put into orders!!! I have no intention of ordering wrong meds for inmates because of their bad handwriting.
I am saturating my spirit this early morning with friends’ posts and this blessed me as His guidance over you penetrated my heart. I think we all long for that kind of rest that comes from Him alone. But what I’m grateful for, we can enjoy that still even if we’re here in this foreign place…
“Did anyone else do this when you had to care for someone who was dying? Did you disconnect your emotions from the situation to survive?”
To answer this question, again, I would like to share something when my father was on his bed, unable to get up and just waiting for the Lord to take him patiently…I think that’s what most people thought whenever they visited him…that perhaps, we were not being realistic that he was nearing his physical death. Because my siblings, my father and I were always joking around, laughing so much despite my father dying from colon cancer. The guests came crying for him to see him in that state. But they also left crying with tears of joy because my father never stopped joking around with which character, he was famous for.
During one of the sleepless nights we tried to savor and freeze time, he put his mouth near my right ear and my father whispered, “God is good to us. I don’t want to die to be remembered I was in pain and crying and suffering. I want to be remembered for the good, joyful times we all had. Because God is good!” I didn’t know what to say but I knew he was speaking deeper things during those days. I knew He was there. Because I had peace and comfort in my heart as well as with my brothers also.
My father was right…God is good!!! Because when I think about our times with him, I always laughed…I always smiled…
Praying for God’s comfort to be always with you. His strength to always be yours. Be strong in the Lord’s mighty power!!! Thank you for blessing me and reassuring me with this post!!!Love you in Christ.
Beth, I am so thankful you joined in (and yes, you did it right:)). I love this scripture. And you did a great job writing it with your left hand. I love the picture and I can totally see the mountain. Even though our path may be arduous and unclear at times, there is always new life springing forth!
I cannot imagine what you’ve been going through with your parents. I have not had the occasion to disconnect my feelings as you have mentioned. May you continue to find the peace and strength for the journey.
Hi Beth, When my own mom was so sick, I had been helping to be care taker for such a long time. Worse yet, she was in Virginia and I was here. On top of that, I had a baby and that made travel so difficult. She went down hill and I kept trying to ‘save’ her. I never made the transition smoothly from wanting to be the daughter to my mother and then having to be a tough care taker to her. So, it was confusing for me and I know it was really sad for both of us. I seemed mean at times to her and she would be ‘better’ so I was angry. I didn’t look at scripture to help me. You are doing a good job. Your support system through your faith is really wonderful. The letters are something you will never regret! Take care, ks
My heart is very full after reading your post. Both of my parents have passed away, so I understand some of what you’re facing. God bless.